| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5048
Location: Barcelona
|
 Posted: Apr 07, 2011 10:13 Post subject: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
Minnesota, the "North Star State"
| Description: |
Calcite
Hovland, Cook County, Minnesota, USA
6.6 cm. x 5.2 cm.
Photo: Bob Weaver
One image of a Calcite, kindly supplied by Bob Weaver for Minessota, a state where apparently is hard to find minerals from.
Again, thank you Bob! |
|
| Viewed: |
40420 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
rweaver
Joined: 13 Apr 2009
Posts: 259
Location: Ridgecrest, California
|
| Posted: Apr 07, 2011 19:12 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
Bought through an auction
| Description: |
Copper on Calcite
St Louis Co., Minnesota
3.8cm x 3.1cm |
|
| Viewed: |
40337 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rweaver
Joined: 13 Apr 2009
Posts: 259
Location: Ridgecrest, California
|
| Posted: Apr 07, 2011 19:15 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
rare from the state
| Description: |
Rhodochrosite
St. Louis Co., Minnesota
4.2cm x 3.1cm |
|
| Viewed: |
40397 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
GneissWare
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 1287
Location: California
|
| Posted: Apr 07, 2011 19:17 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
| Nice rhodo and copper specimens. I though only ice cubes came from Minne-so-cold. ;=)
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rweaver
Joined: 13 Apr 2009
Posts: 259
Location: Ridgecrest, California
|
| Posted: Apr 07, 2011 19:20 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
My last one from the state
| Description: |
Groutite
Robert Mine,
Cuyuna Iron Range, Crow Wing Co.,
Minnesota
4.0cm x 4.0cm |
|
| Viewed: |
40312 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Groutite
Robert Mine,
Cuyuna Iron Range, Crow Wing Co.,
Minnesota
4.0cm x 4.0cm |
|
| Viewed: |
40344 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Nash
Joined: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 34
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
| Posted: Nov 26, 2011 20:50 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
Minnesota is not known for having much beyond agates for mineral collectors. However, it turns out that if one is persistent, interesting finds can be had in the lava flows along the North Shore (the north eastern coast along Lake Superior). I thank Mike Hedtke for showing me one terrific locality, the Knife River. I thank persistence and luck for the rest! Here are a number of my Minnesota specimens, beginning with those from the Knife River.
| Description: |
Natrolite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
9 X 6 X 3.5 cm
A 4.5 cm pocket filled with natrolite or a closely related species. |
|
| Viewed: |
39259 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Copper, minor chrysocolla
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Specimen 12 X 9 X 6 cm
Field of view is about 4 cm, the main rough crystal is 2.5 cm and protrudes up out of the matrix. |
|
| Viewed: |
39264 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Kinoite in calcite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Specimen 7 X 6 X 5 cm, Field of view 2 cm
A one time find of kinoite in calcite. |
|
| Viewed: |
39257 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite epimorphs of laumontite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
6 X 5 X 4 cm
Beautiful orange prehnite epimorphs of laumontite. |
|
| Viewed: |
39279 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite epipmorphs of laumontite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
5 cm field of view |
|
| Viewed: |
39304 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Field of view 2.5 cm
Most remarkable iridescent orange prehnite, metallic blue and purple flashes are amazing in person. I've found only a few examples in 5 years of visiting the locale. |
|
| Viewed: |
39265 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite, minor copper
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
8 X 6 X 5 cm
Gemmy light green prehnite, some copper inside. |
|
| Viewed: |
39288 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
9 X 7 X 4
Orange iridescent prehnite. So lovely in person, look at the close-up! Another one-time find, one boulder from the river, discovered by my son Greg. |
|
| Viewed: |
39309 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Field of view about 6 cm
The light blue iridescence on this orange prehnite is stunning. |
|
| Viewed: |
39289 Time(s) |
|
_________________
John K. Nash, Ph.D. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Nash
Joined: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 34
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
| Posted: Nov 26, 2011 21:23 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
Here are examples of wonderful finds from the North Shore of Minnesota. I've found these calcites and apophyllites with my son Greg, plus one huge calcite from an agate dealer. I haven't seen well-crystallized apophyllite from Minnesota before.
| Description: |
Apophyllite on calcite
Onion River, near Lutsen, Cook County, Minnesota, USA
3.5 X 3 X 3 cm
A stubby little calcite crystal with many clear apophyllites growing on the top. |
|
| Viewed: |
39226 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Apophyllite on calcite
Onion River, near Lutsen, Cook County, Minnesota, USA
6.5 X 4 X 4 cm
A fine calcite crystal with a number of clear apophyllites on it. |
|
| Viewed: |
39264 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Calcite with apophyllite
Onion River, near Lutsen, Cook County, Minnesota, USA
9 X 7 X 6 cm
Two calcites, entwined like lovers, with a few apophyllites. |
|
| Viewed: |
39274 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Calcite and laumontite
Onion River, near Lutsen, Cook County, Minnesota, USA
3 X 1.5 cm
From the same pocket as the apophyllite. |
|
| Viewed: |
39266 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Apophyllite
Onion River, near Lutsen, Cook County, Minnesota, USA
Field of view 3 cm
A close up of the apophyllite showing the clarity. |
|
| Viewed: |
39289 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Calcite in laumontite
Near Beaver Bay, Lake County, Minnesota, USA
25 X 18 X 16 cm
Ex-Roland Quinn, proprietor of the Beaver Bay Agate Shop at the time. Roland inherited the shop and collection from his father. This incredible specimen has a group of flat-topped pseudohexagonal calcites in a large boulder of calcite and laumontite. It clearly was a piece of a large calcite vein that broke off. The miracle is that the whole specimen looks like a water-worn rock, but the calcite crystals are pristine and undamaged, showing no signs of wear at all. Greg theorizes this must have been in a part of Lake Superior with a sandy bottom. The usual pebble bottoms would have made short work of the calcite. The largest crystal is about 6 cm across. A true Minnesota classic, rare beyond rare. |
|
| Viewed: |
39243 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Calcite in laumontite
Near Beaver Bay, Lake County, Minnesota, USA
Largest crystal is 6 cm |
|
| Viewed: |
39232 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Calcite
Near Crystal Creek, Minnesota, USA
15 X 10 X 8 cm
A group of scalenohedral calcites, the largest is 4 cm, sitting in a vug of greenish quartz. Found by my son Greg in a rock slide at a road cut through the North Shore basalt. |
|
| Viewed: |
39210 Time(s) |
|
_________________
John K. Nash, Ph.D. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Nash
Joined: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 34
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
| Posted: Nov 26, 2011 22:13 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
Just one more thing for now, pectolite from Castle Danger, MN. The "rock yard" where tailings were dumped as early as 1920 from highway construction along the North Shore yielded these interesting specimens.
| Description: |
Pectolite
Castle Danger, the Rock Yard, Minnesota, USA
About 5 X 9 X 9 cm
Radiating clusters of Pectolite crystals and another mineral, possibly xonotlite, in a dark green mix of augite and plagioclase altered to prehnite. About 5 X 9 X 9 cm, the specimen is an amygdule containing the pectolite, surrounded by prehnite. This was described in a 1924 article by G. M. Schwartz of the U of MN in the American Mineralogist, pp. 83 - 88. |
|
| Viewed: |
39301 Time(s) |
|
_________________
John K. Nash, Ph.D. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Nash
Joined: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 34
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
| Posted: Nov 26, 2011 23:30 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
One last specimen to represent Minnesota - until next collecting season - some bright orange analcime. One large (20 cm) boulder discovered by my son Greg produced this and a number of other lovely specimens. Greg has very sharp eyes for the minerals ever since he started at age 11. Now he's 22.
| Description: |
Analcime
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
The specimen is about 7.5 X 8 X 6 cm.
The analcite crystals are quite small, only about 2mm. See the close-up. |
|
| Viewed: |
39220 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Analcime
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
The specimen is about 7.5 X 8 X 6 cm.
Field of view is about 3.5 cm |
|
| Viewed: |
39192 Time(s) |
|
_________________
John K. Nash, Ph.D. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5048
Location: Barcelona
|
| Posted: Nov 27, 2011 04:53 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
| John Nash wrote: |
...yes, I posted the apophyllites with calcite - and others - to the Minnesota minerals section, I thought the state should look a little better mineralogically!
|
Much better John, thank you. Great additions for Minnesota!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Nash
Joined: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 34
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
| Posted: Nov 28, 2011 00:24 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
One more from the Knife River, just now trimmed and cleaned.
| Description: |
Prehnite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
19.5 X 10 X 10 cm approximately
This orange prehnite shows partial casts after laumontite, the largest cast is about 2 cm. The prehnite glitters with gold and some blue iridescence. |
|
| Viewed: |
39039 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Field of view 11 cm |
|
| Viewed: |
39061 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Prehnite
Knife River, St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Field of view 4.5 cm |
|
| Viewed: |
39058 Time(s) |
|
_________________
John K. Nash, Ph.D. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 5048
Location: Barcelona
|
| Posted: Jan 20, 2012 12:44 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
A fine addition from Jeff Scovil: six candies, all of them from Soudan Mine.
As always, thank you so much Jeff!
| Description: |
Quartz with Hematite and Pyrite
Soudan Mine, Soudan, Vermilion Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
6.5 wide
From Don & Gloria Olson
Photo: Jeff Scovil |
|
| Viewed: |
38595 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Quartz and Hematite
Soudan Mine, Soudan, Vermilion Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
4 cm. high
From Don & Gloria Olson
Photo: Jeff Scovil |
|
| Viewed: |
38631 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Quartz and Hematite
Soudan Mine, Soudan, Vermilion Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
4.2 cm. high
From Don & Gloria Olson
Photo: Jeff Scovil |
|
| Viewed: |
38696 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Quartz and Hematite
Soudan Mine, Soudan, Vermilion Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
2.7 cm. wide
From Don & Gloria Olson
Photo: Jeff Scovil |
|
| Viewed: |
38913 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Quartz and Hematite inclusions
Soudan Mine, Soudan, Vermilion Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
3.6 high
From Don & Gloria Olson
Photo: Jeff Scovil |
|
| Viewed: |
38805 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Quartz
Soudan Mine, Soudan, Vermilion Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
9.5 cm. high
From Don & Gloria Olson
Photo: Jeff Scovil |
|
| Viewed: |
38664 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John Nash
Joined: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 34
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
| Posted: Aug 11, 2012 23:35 Post subject: Re: A mineralogical trip through the states of USA - Minnesota |
|
|
Some summer finds from Minnesota
| Description: |
Pectolite and apophyllite
Castle Danger, Minnesota, USA
The pectolite spray is 2 cm across |
|
| Viewed: |
36921 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
Apophyllite
Castle Danger, Minnesota, USA
The apophyllites are about 2 cm
These are part of a large (40 cm) rock (coarsely crystallized gabbro) found last weekend on the coast of Lake Superior that split perfectly down the middle revealing a number of pockets. Now for some extensive work with the rock trimmer to turn these into specimens. |
|
| Viewed: |
36987 Time(s) |
|
_________________
John K. Nash, Ph.D. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ 
Register
Log in
Forgotten your password?
